Sunday, April 4, 2021
Third Sunday of Great Lent
Veneration of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross
Tone 2 and Eothinon 10
Venerable George of Mt. Maleon
Today’s Hymns and Readings
Apolytikion of the Resurrection – Tone 2
When thou, O immortal Life, didst humble thyself unto death, then didst thou destroy death by the brightness of thy Godhead; and when thou didst raise the bowels of the earth, then all the heavenly powers exclaimed, O Christ, thou art the Giver of life! Glory to thee, O our God!
Apolytikion of the Holy Cross – Tone 1
O Lord, save thy people and bless thine inheritance, granting our believing kings victory over the Barbarians, and by the power of thy Cross preserving thy commonwealth.
Apolytikion of the Nativity of the Theotokos – Tone 4
Thy nativity, O Theotokos, hath proclaimed joy to the whole universe. For from thee did shine forth the Sun of justice, Christ our God, annulling the curse, and bestowing the blessing, abolishing death and granting us life everlasting.
Kontakion for the Sundays in Lent – Tone 8
To thee, the Champion Leader, do I offer thanks of victory, O Theotokos, thou who hast delivered me from terror; but as thou that has that power invincible, O Theotokos, thou alone can set me free: from all forms of danger free me and deliver me, that I may cry unto thee: Hail, O Bride without Bridegroom.
The Anti-Trisagion Hymn: Before Thy Cross, we bow down in worship, Master, and Thy Holy Resurrection we glorify.
Epistle – Hebrews 4:14-5:6 (Third Sunday in Lent)
Prokeimenon. Psalm 27.9, 1. O Lord, save your people and bless your inheritance.
Verse. To you, O Lord, have I cried, O my God.
BRETHREN, since we have a high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we have not a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. Because of this he is bound to offer sacrifice for his own sins as well as for those of the people. And one does not take the honor upon himself, but he is called by God, just as Aaron was.
So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, “Thou art my Son, today I have begotten thee”; as he says also in another place, “Thou art a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.”
Gospel – Mark 8:34-9:1 (Third Sunday in Lent)
THE LORD SAID, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? For what can a man give in return for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of man also be ashamed, when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” And Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power.”
Next week’s homework: Hebrews 6:13-20 (Fourth Sunday of Great Lent)
Mark 9:17-31 (Fourth Sunday of Great Lent)
Megalynarion – In thee rejoiceth, O full of grace, all creation: the angelic hosts, and the race of men, O hallowed temple and noetic paradise, glory of virgins, of whom God was incarnate and became a little child, even our God Who is before all the ages; for He made thy womb a throne and thy body He made more spacious than the heavens. In thee rejoiceth, O full of grace, all creation; and it glorifieth thee.
LITURGICAL NOTE: During Great Lent we celebrate the Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great.
Irene Tashji will donate the flowers for the icon of the Annunciation for the Madayeh/Akathist Service this Friday in memory of her mother, Marie Tashji. Memory eternal!
POST-COMMUNION PRAYERS – At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, a reader will read the Post-Communion Prayers of Thanksgiving. Please reverently hear these prayers before beginning to “chat.”
APRIL 4, 2021 – THIRD SUNDAY OF GREAT LENT – VENERATION OF THE PRECIOUS AND LIFE-GIVING CROSS
Mission Statement - The mission of St. Mary’s Antiochian Orthodox Church of Brooklyn, NY, is to love and worship God through participation in the liturgical life of the Church, and to live and teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We carry out this mission through education, outreach, fellowship, and works of mercy with love for each other, our neighbors, and our diverse world.
We are pleased to welcome you to worship with us today. Please note that only Orthodox Christians who have prepared themselves with prayer, fasting and a recent confession may approach to receive Holy Communion. Everyone is welcome to reverence the cross and to partake of the blessed bread at the dismissal. Please introduce yourself to our pastor, and ask him about membership in the Orthodox Church.
TODAY, APRIL 4 – We pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Robert Coogan, Mary Gehshan, Dr. George Ghiz, Victoria and Esber Najjar, Annette Absey, Antoine Khalil Debbas, Martha Hamatie, Wilfred Jabara, Michael Howie, Adele Trisciuzzi, Charles Norman Sabah, and Isabel Araman Zain. Memory eternal!
Sandra and Robert Coogan offer Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the soul of their dearly departed son Robert Coogan, Jr. Memory eternal!
NEXT SUNDAY, APRIL 11 – We will pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Najla Arida, Mary Ayoub, Helen Cook, James J. Coury, Fred Dibbs, Jean and George Fadool, Marie Farkouh, Raymond Farkouh, Jean Haddad, Albert Hanna, George Kaiatt, Lynn Lewis, Edward S. Mackoul, Alex Mashnouk, Vivian Massab, Viola Mesnooh, Linda and William Nafash, Stanley Najjar, Nazira and Gabriel Samen, Mary Savarese, Marie Tashji, Felipe Trabulsi, and John Wizeman. Memory eternal!
Rose Abdallah will offer Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Jean and George Fadool. Memory eternal!
HOLY BREAD – The Farkouh and Mackoul Families offer the Holy Bread of Oblation for the month of April in loving memory of Margaret and Edward Mackoul and Mary and Ray Farkouh. Memory eternal! Additional donors are welcome for May and succeeding months. We ask for a donation of $50/week.
CHURCH ATTENDANCE - We have increased capacity in line with civil and Archdiocese guidelines while still maintaining the social distancing of 6 feet. There is always a possibility that the church may reach social distance capacity in which case worshippers may wait safely 6 feet apart outside the church. At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy people outside may enter the church as attendees exit to receive Holy Communion, holy bread, and/or light a candle. We still ask everyone who wants to attend in person either to call the church office or email pastor@smaoc.org ahead of time.
PLEASE MAKE SURE all electronic devices are turned off in church or at home.
FOR THE INFIRM – Please remember our ailing brethren in your daily intercessions, especially, Clair Banat (Norwegian), Khalil Eid (Hamilton Park), Mary Ganim (Heritage Rehab), Diana Finger, Robert Forcina, Susan Hadad, Edward Hanna, Alfred Nahas, Louis Savarese, Evelyn Shamoun, Leon Smatt, Jim Thompson (NJ), George Trisciuzzi, Dr. Samir Zamaria (MD), and Rose Zrake (at home).
LENTEN LITURGICAL SCHEDULE – There will be Great Compline at St. Mary’s each Monday night at 7:00 PM, the Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts each Wednesday at 7:00 PM, and the Akathist/Madayeh Service each Friday at 7:00 PM. Great Vespers will continue each Saturday at 5:00 PM. Due to pandemic conditions there will be no Pot Luck Suppers or sponsored dinners this year.
FASTING DISCIPLINE FOR APRIL - The traditional fasting discipline (no meat, poultry, cheese, eggs, dairy, fish, wine, olive oil or their by-products) is observed on all days of Great Lent with the exception of wine and olive oil being allowed on Saturdays and Sundays.
SACRAMENT OF REPENTANCE (CONFESSION) – The Great Fast is THE TIME for all believers to receive the Sacrament of Repentance (Confession). The pastor hears confessions by appointment and before and after all the divine services.
FOOD FOR HUNGRY PEOPLE – The traditional FFHP collection boxes are available in the narthex. Remember the least of Christ’s brethren by depositing your extra change at the end of each day, and return the box on or before Palm Sunday.
PLEDGE GIVING – During these extraordinary times we ask everyone to maintain their pledge giving as much as possible. Please remember that St. Mary's Church now accepts donations online. Just visit https://smaoc.squarespace.com/donate and pay securely by credit card, debit card, or check. There is an option to indicate gifts made in honor of or in remembrance of someone.
LENTEN RESOURCES – Our parish Bookstore has copies of the service books for Great Lent, including Little Compline with the Akathist Hymn, the Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts, and Holy Week. There are also a few Lenten cookbooks available. Please contact Lorraine Deeb at ldeebsped@verizon.net or (718) 491-4996 to reserve your books.
DATES TO REMEMBER
Monday, April 5 Great Compline, 7:00 PM
Wednesday, April 7 Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts, 7:00 PM
Friday, April 9 Third Madayeh/Akathist, 7:00 PM
Saturday, April 10 Great Vespers, 5:00 PM
We livestream all divine services via twitch.tv/smaoc.
FROM THE FATHERS – “Entrust to God the needs of your body, and it will be clear that you entrust to Him the needs of your spirit also.”
- Evagrios the Solitary (345-399)
A Parish of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America